News

Savannah Philharmonic to Present “A Night in Vienna”

January 7, 2013

The Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra will present “A Night in Vienna” on Friday, February 1, 2013 at 7:30 pm in the sophisticated setting of the historic Trustees Theater. During this evening of elegance, audiences will enjoy several of Strauss’ most beloved waltzes and jaunty dances including the sparkling Gypsy Baron Overture and the consistently popular Blue Danube Waltz, among others. The orchestra will be accompanied by soloists Sara Peeples and Ian O’Brien, who were selected for this performance in collaboration with the VOICExperience Foundation, a leading educational training program for opera singers. For a deeper understanding of the music they are about to hear, ticket holders may also choose attend the educational pre-concert talk facilitated by the Savannah Friends of Music at 6:30 pm.

“I have wanted to do a Viennese New Year’s Day type concert here in Savannah for years,” says Artistic Director and Conductor Peter Shannon. “Those concerts are just so elegant – full of Strauss waltzes and polkas, they are light and full of cheer. As with many beautiful things, they appear deceptively simple, but they are extraordinary difficult to play well,” he continues. “I’m
willing to bet that the Savannah Philharmonic will do them justice, though. Get your tickets early for this one; we’ll have you dancing with New Year’s cheer!”

The Philharmonic welcomes for the first time to Savannah soprano Sara Peeples. Possessing a voice with “fine security of tone and dramatic focus in high, delicate passages,” Peeples has been hailed as “impressive,” “moving,” and “charming” (John Fleming, St. Petersburg Times). Her opera credits include the roles of Gilda (Rigoletto,) Euridice (Orfeo ed Euridice,) Rosina
(Il Barbieri di Siviglia,) Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro – in concert), Frasquita (Carmen,) and Musetta (La Boheme.) Ms. Peeples has performed with Opera Tampa, the St. Petersburg Opera, New Century Opera, Treasure Coast Opera, the Florida Lyric Opera, and Sunstate Opera Society and has also sung concert and oratorio works with several organizations in Florida. During the past year, she appeared as a New Artist for Opera Tampa and participated in Sherrill Milnes’
V.O.I.C.Experience programs in Tampa, Savannah and New York City.

Also joining the performance is Ian O’Brien, an operatic tenor from Connecticut. He was previously an Opera Tampa Young Artist under the direction of Sherrill Milnes, Maria Zouves and Anton Coppola. This past summer, Ian was a Bonfils-Stanton Studio Artist with Central City Opera in Colorado, where he was the recipient of the John & Ginney Starkey Award. His winter performance of the Soldat in Viktor Ullmann’s “The Emperor of Atlantis” with Central City Opera was broadcast on NPR.

Tickets for “A Night in Vienna” are now available for purchase by calling the box office at (912) 525-5050 or online at www.savannahphilharmonic.org. Ticket prices are $16 – $55 with limited premium seating at $65.

The SPO’s mission is to provide the highest level of musical performances and educational programs featuring the highest caliber of professional musicians, a volunteer chorus and internationally acclaimed soloists. The SPO aims to exhilarate, educate and enrich a large and diverse audience in the greater Savannah community. For more information please visit www.savannahphilharmonic.org.